Xserver and Why choose Linux over MS Server?

[Amanajaku]

Hi Guys,

I am pretty much new to the linux thing, so please bear with me.

1) I install Mandrake 9.0, things seem to be going smooth. I get to the point of the installation where it asks which version of Xserver? you wish to use. There are three options. I dont remember them exactly but it goes something to the tune of:

1) 4.2.6
2) 3.6.1
3) 3.6.1 BETA

It then gives me a message that the older version may not allow 3d acceleration to function properly. So I click on what I believe is the latest version, 4.2.6 (Am I wrong in assuming that the higher number is the latest version? Or does X go backwards?) I then click through the rest of the installation. I believe it accurately identified my videocard.

Now, I restart and BOOM.. I get dropped to a logon prompt. One that I dont mind, but I am slightly irked that X isnt working properly. I wish I had the correct error code, I believe it was an IO Error 104 or 110 (Sorry, i am at work, and the system is at home)

Anyway, my question is, how do I reconfigure the X86free support for Mandrake. Is there a way to change which version I am using from the command prompt?

My second question is.. Why use Linux? With a Windows 2000 server environment, I could easily deply, maintain, and secure (as secure a 2k environment can be) using the tools and Active directory struction. My biggest concern is central management. Does Linux have the equivilent of Active Directory? How do I have multiple linux workstations logon or validate to one shared security resource, like an Active Directory? For instance I have 10 file and print servers, does each client need an account on each server? I am sure its possible to mass create logon accounts? Anyway, just a few simple questions. I hope I get some responses,

thanks

Amanajaku

 

[krale]

Please bear with me. It'll sound quite ...."elite" sounding but I'm sincere about it.

>>>Now, I restart and BOOM.. I get dropped to a logon prompt. One that I dont mind, but I am slightly irked that X isnt working properly. I wish I had the correct error code, I believe it was an IO Error 104 or 110 (Sorry, i am at work, and the system is at home)

We need to know what GFX card you have and the relavalent lines of X dying. If the card works/worked with X, we can help you.

>>>Anyway, my question is, how do I reconfigure the X86free support for Mandrake. Is there a way to change which version I am using from the command prompt?

Version... yes. You have to find the package on the cd, remove your new package, and install the old. You use this using RPM to (un)install.

>>>My second question is.. Why use Linux? With a Windows 2000 server environment, I could easily deply, maintain, and secure (as secure a 2k environment can be) using the tools and Active directory struction.

Why? Linux provides us a very secure and stable system that costs no money to install. And unlike Windows, it is truly free. If you dont like something about program Z, you can edit it to your liking. The only thing the GPL asks in that case, is if you make your modification public, you also give your edits the same way.

You also have the ability to learn EVERYTHING about your system. There's nothing hidden about Linux. Unlike windows, where it "knows better", "treats you like an idiot", and "Hides stuff you dont need to know about".

Also everythings modular in the system. You dont like/trust program Z, remove it using the package manager. If another program needs a security patch, why download a 100 MB file that includes IE? If the hole is that serious, just stop the daemon and wait/roll your own patch.

In the Microsoft world, they have control over you. In Linux and unix world, you have the control over the computer and its hardware.

>>>My biggest concern is central management. Does Linux have the equivilent of Active Directory?

Yep, Nis or OpenLdap.

>>>How do I have multiple linux workstations logon or validate to one shared security resource, like an Active Directory?

Do you want their homes stored locally and rsynced on logout, or remote mount through SMB/AFS/NFS ? Kerberos is nice with Ldap. Just get kerberized daemons and check for Tickets.

>>>For instance I have 10 file and print servers, does each client need an account on each server? I am sure its possible to mass create logon accounts? Anyway, just a few simple questions. I hope I get some responses,

All AD is just a X.500 directory server hacked onto windows 'stuff'.

thanks

Amanajaku

Please let Tek-Tips members know if their posts were helpful.

 

[Amanajaku]

Krale,

You didnt sound elitist at all. Besides, I am often accused of sounding that way myself, so I am sure I deserve a little bit in return, especially when I am on the giving end of n00bish gold.

Alright, so my video card is an Nvidia based Geforce2. I didnt think that I could trouble shoot the issue, which is why I didnt post my card. I more likely wanted to reconfigure. But seeing as from what you told me that might not be as feasible as I would like.

I should also note this is a fresh install of Mandrake. I formated my NTFS XP Pro partition and dropped it on lastnight. I decided it was time I started preparing myself for linux.

Relivant lines of dying? Yes, well, I am going to have to get that to you a little later when I get home.

Now, the whole why choose Linux issue:

So what your telling me, is all the functionality that Windows 2000 Servers have, Linux also can emulate them (or perhaps its Windows 2000 who is doing a convincing job of emulating Linux . So when properly configured, a client can validate to an external source that houses user information, such as rights, and that same user database can be shared throughout a network, with the need for the client to log on to each specific server?

Also, the ability of linux to allow me to know it might seem like a fearsome task at first. Since starting to install linux lastnight I have poured over atleast 100 different commands and strings that make no sense to me what so ever, and thats just in my attempt to get my GUI working properly. I guess what I am getting at is, yes, its wonderful, I have finite control over everything, buts its going to take me years of constant use before I understand the OS enough to trouble shoot most problems? Not that I mind, I enjoy learning new things, and tackling problems, and there is a bit of pride that one can associate with handling a problem that requires quite a bit of work to solve. However, time is valuable, and I believe thats M$'s biggest selling point over Linux. Now, that may be niave, because self admitadly, I am a n00b, and just starting. Hopefully I can pick up the pace and be humming a long just fine in a few months. I prefer the CLI anyways

Amana

 

[Amanajaku]

Alright,

I believe the exact error (unless there is another one, or more to this one) is:

XIO: fatal IO error 104 (connection reset be peer) on X server ":0.0" after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

Alright, I also stumbled upon the "x86cfg" command and when running that it gives me:

sh: line 1: /usr/X11r6/bin/XFree86: No such file or directory
Failed to run "X -configure".

Thanks again

 

[Cocktail]

I suggest you download the latest videodrivers for Linux directly from NVidia.
I know from personal experience that not many distros support NVidia from start (RedHat do), but you can download compiled binarys or the source and install it yourself.

That should get X running.

As for learning Linux - yes it takes a while before you gets the hang of it, but after about a month you are starting to get the feel for your personal enviroment, and after that things get real nice...

-C.